UT Martin
Ecclesia
SKYHAWK MEN'S HOOPS LOOKS TO GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN TOMORROW AGAINST FIRST-TIME OPPONENT ECCLESIA
12/9/2023 10:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time in two-and-a-half weeks, the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball squad will play in front of the home crowd as the Skyhawks host the Ecclesia Royals out of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Tipoff on Sunday, Dec. 10 is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
UT Martin is 3-0 inside the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center in 2023-24 and has won 17 of its last 19 home decisions. During that 19-game span, the Skyhawks have lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 90.2 points per contest.
Last week, UT Martin (5-4) faced tough opposition on the road and fell to American Athletic Conference member Rice (98-78) and Southland Conference contender McNeese (91-80). The Skyhawks caught fire from long distance in those two games, swishing 43.3 percent (29-for-67) of their attempts from beyond the three-point arc. That included 16 trifectas at McNeese - just one shy of the school's single-game record.
Jacob Crews led the way last week for UT Martin, tossing in 22.0 points per game on a blistering 61.5 field goal percentage (16-for-26) while also adding 8.0 rebounds per contest. Justus Jackson also had a strong week for the Skyhawks with 15.0 points per outing - including a team-best eight treys while shooting 61.5 percent from deep - while Issa Muhammad (9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds per game) nearly averaged a double-double.
Hailing from Springdale, Ark., Ecclesia is 2-7 heading into a home matchup this afternoon against Arlington Baptist. The Royals are paced by high-scoring guard Ryan Reed, who already has a pair of 30-plus point games under his belt this season. In a Nov. 20 exhibition against Sun Belt Conference opponent Louisiana-Monroe, Reed went off for 24 points in just 21 minutes for Ecclesia, who will face UT Martin for the first time on the hardwood.
Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Chris Brinkley (color) will broadcast all the action live from courtside on both ESPN+ and WCMT Radio 1410 AM/100.5 FM. Those links, plus a link to follow along via live stats, are located above.
